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Pentagon Launches Comprehensive Review of 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders a new investigation into the chaotic exit under President Biden, revisiting failures that led to the Kabul airport bombing and partisan blame.

US-Verteidigungsminister Pete Hegseth lässt den Afghanistan-Abzug unter dem früheren Präsidenten Joe Biden vor rund dreieinhalb Jahren neu untersuchen. Er habe eine umfassende Überprüfung angeordnet, erklärte der Pentagon-Chef.

Overview

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has initiated an in-depth review of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal to clarify decision-making failures and provide a full account to the public.
  • The review will be led by Sean Parnell, a veteran and advisor to Hegseth, and will re-examine prior investigations conducted by the military, State Department, and Congress.
  • Hegseth criticized the Biden administration for a 'catastrophic' pullout, citing the Kabul airport bombing that killed 13 U.S. soldiers and 170 civilians as a key failure.
  • This new probe follows the March 2025 arrest of an alleged ISIS-K operative, suspected of orchestrating the Kabul attack, captured with assistance from Pakistan.
  • Questions remain about how this review will differ from earlier inquiries, which have produced conflicting accounts and fueled partisan disputes over responsibility.